Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-03-08
XXTH LEGISLATURE.
The Senate Thoroughly Discusses the
Reformatory School Bill and Orders
1t TO ERgross
The House at Work on Bill Requiring
Railroads to Pay Taxes on
Watered stock.
TIE SENATE.


Special to the Gazette.
AUSTIN, TEX, March Bills were
introduced: By Senator Douglas of
Jefferson, providing that where an cleo
ton is held for the removal of county
seat no other election for the same pur-
pose shall be neId for the period of five
years.
By Senator Abercrombie, by request,
to amend the law relative to paying fees
TO witnesses.
Senator Mscmanus called up the deep
water bill.
Senator BuTney moved to amend by pro-
viding that piers may be constructed to
deep water and that fee Of 500 shall be
charged by the Secretary OF State for
filing charters. Adopted.
Senator Allen moved to change Mexi-
can Gulf to the Gulf of Mexico. Adopted.
Senator Harrison moved to amend so
as to give the Legislature power TO
change or alter rates of toll. Adopted.
Several amendments by Senator Mac
manus, perfecting the bill, were adopted
and the bill engrossed
House and Senate bills to establish
reformatory were laid before the Senate,
and the Senate bill was adopted
OCudIOT IlCiu uONtu W duIcuNI pIO-
yiding that after the commissioners have
selected q site that the Governor shall
appoint board Of trustees to supern
tend the work, and further p DIVIDING that
the reformatory shall not be within ten
miles of q town.
Senator Claiborne moved TO strike out
ten miles and insert five.
Senator Terrell moved TO insert two
miles.
Senator Bell, for judiciary committee
No. ., reported fayorably TO provide for
the assessment of live stock in pastures
on county boundaries.
Unfsvorabiy, House bill No. 1853.
Unfavorably, to define aud punish
usury.
Unfavorably, House bill No. ZIG amend
ing the penal code.
Favorably, amending the penal code.
Unfayorably, House bill No. 1853.
UnfavOrably, House bill No I42.
Unfavorably, House bill No l55.
UnfavorGbly, House bill No I4".
Adjourned until 3 p. m.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The reformstory bill was again taken
up, the pending question being the adOp-
lion of the amendment fixing the distance
of location from cities and towns to two
miles, and it was adopted.
Senator Harrison moved to strike out
the clause limiting the price to be paid
for the site to $4,000 Lost
Senator Pope moved to strike out the
provision giving the inmates their pro
rata share OF the public free school fund
30 be used for educational purposes. He
insisted that such provision was uncon-
stitGtional, and thai the free school fund
was not intended TO be used to educate
. criminals, aud he therefore wanted it
struck out.
Senator Fields thought the money
could be used, and he hoped the clause
would be retained.
Senator StinsOn favored the amend
ment, as it was unconstitutional to re-
tain the clause in the bill. He contended
that the bill in its present state was sim
ply an inducement for crime, and it should
be changed.
The amendment was adopted.
Senator Pope offered ali amendment
liking the salary of the superintendent at
$500.
Senator Fields opposed the amend
ment.
Senator Fields argued that $500 was
sufficient for the superintendent, at least
for the first year or two. The times
were stringent, the Treasury was almost
depleted and counties were sending up
petitions asking to be released from
taxes, and the condition of affairs did not
warrant the paying of big salaries. He
favored large salaries and competent Off
GERS, but in the beginning of this institu-
ton ne believed that competent fore
man, such as the bill required, could be
o ~.
The amendment was lost.
Senator Woodward moved to amend,
providing that the superintendent may
be removed by the Governor. Adopted.
Senator Allen Offered an amendment
providing that cOnViCts now in the state
prisons who at the time OF their convic-
ton were under sixteen years and who
are now under twenty-ope be reno, I'd to
the Teformatory. Adopted.
Senator Stins0n moved to amend au-
thOriZing the trustees to adopt uni
form. Adopted
Senator ArGnis.eGd offered to amend
by providing that female convicts of any
age now in the penitentisry whose term
does not exceed five years shall be placed
in the reformatOry. Lost.
Senator Gregg aloved to amend so as
to make 1t the duty of the jury trying the
case to determine the age of the offender
Adopted and the bill wa5 engrossed.
Senator Armistead sent up q bill to
validate laad certificates issued to those
who have been disabled in the service of
the states.
Senator Claiborne introduced a resolu-
ton looking to holding three sessions
daily. Laid over under the rules.
Adjourned till 10 O'Clock Tuesday.
THE HoI Sc.
petition was presented for the Gre
alton of another new county out of part
of Tom Green county.
Also q petition asking that territory
taken from BsXar county and coded to
Medina county De restored to Bexar
county.
Bills were introduced: Making it penal
to sell chances in rattle for an article or
articles Of less value than $500.
Defining the rights of the State Uni
versity, and giving the university regents
control of its lands and all its branches.
Requiring railroads to furnish cars for
all freight offered.
Requiring railroads 70 keep fire guards.
Regulating the working of conyicts out
side of the penitentaries.
The House considered the general
school bill. Numerous amendments